Replaceable cam switching device for a coin controlled machine

ABSTRACT

A switching device for a coin controlled machine in which operation of the machine is effected by closing both of two series connected switches by the action of two rotary indexed cams. The number of coin slide movement cycles required to effect concurrent closing of both switches is determined by the ratio of the number of lobes on the cams, and can be changed by replacing one of the cams.

[ Aug. 6, 1974 United States Patent [191 Greenwald et al.

RE 1 MM 99 REPLACEABLE CAM SWITCHING DEVICE 3,172,520 3/1965 Greenwald..........................

FOR A COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE 3,295,650 l/1967 3,735,066 5/1973 Greenwald et [75] Inventors: Harry Greenwald, Whitestone;

Robert Tuppo, Elmhurst, both of NY. Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerThomas E. Kocovsky [73] Assignee: Walter Kidd & C qm [57] ABSTRACT A switching devicefor a coin controlled machine in which operation of the machine is effected by closing P nyJI Clifton, NJ. I [22] Filed: June 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 370,868

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number of lobes on the cams, and can be changed by replacing one of the cams.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures 2,899,622 8/1956 Greenwald..................... ZOO/DIG. 3

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SHEET it (if 4 REPLACEABLE CAM SWITCHING DEVICE FOR A COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to coin controlled machines, and more particularly to a switching device for an electrically operated coin machine.

For reliable operation, including starting and stopping, of electrically powered coin machines, such as laundry machines and the like, it has been found advantageous to use a pair of series connected switches to control the on and of functions of the machine. Both switches must close for the machine to turn on, and either switch can be opened to turn the machine off.

It is advantageous to be able to use the same basic type of coin slide for machines that require different numbers of coin slide insertions. In the prior art, a standard coin slide, such as that shown by U.S. Pat. No. 2,964,599 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,489,259, was used in combination with customized switching devices to fultill the needs of diverse coin controllers. Thepresent invention represents an improvement over the switching device described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,622 and applicants earlier invention as embodied in U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,066, both owned by the same assignee herein.

The present invention provides a switching device for a coin controlled machine that can be conveniently set for operation with either a single coin slide insertion cycle or a given multiplicity of coin slide insertion cycles. To accomplish this, the switching device has a pair of series connected switches, drive means disposed for rotary indexing movement by the coin slide, and two cams supported by the drive means for rotary movement therewith whereby each cam actuates a corresponding one of the switches. A first one of the cams has a plurality of lobes each disposed for actuating engagement with the first switch to set same into a closed state upon the completion of each coin slide movement cycle. The second one of the cams has a plurality of lobes each disposed for actuating engagement with the second switch to maintain .it in an open state until the completion of a predetermined number of coin slide cycles. Thus, conduction through both switches, required to effect operation of the machine, is established upon completion of such number of coin slide movement cycles.

This predetermined number of coin slide cycles is equal to the number of lobes on the first cam divided by the number of lobes on the second cam. It has been found that with conveniently compact cam sizes, the number of coin slide cycles for machine operation can be interchangeably set within the range of 1 to 3.

To change the required number of coin slide cycles for machine operation, only one of the two cams, namely the second cam which is the one used to hold open one of the switches, is replaced by a same type cam with the required number of lobes.

To accommodate ready interchangeability of the second type cam, the drive means includes a shaft supported for rotation by a support structure that engages both ends of the shaft, but provides means for readily releasing the shaft. The two cams are mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith as is a plate having a part disposed for matching engagement with a corresponding part on the second cam to establish same in a predetermined angular orientation with respect to the first cam. The replaceable second cam is also disposed for wiping contact engagement with the support structure to establish the location of the second cam along the shaft axis and between the support structure and plate.

For a better understanding of the invention and its several advantages reference should be had to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing which exemplify preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1. is a perspective view of a coin control unit equipped with a switching device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and which is selectively adaptable for either single or multiple insertion coin slide operation, but which is shown set up for single insertion operation.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the switching device in FIG. 1 as seen when removed from the coin control unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical circuit of the switching device of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the switching device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as seen in relation to the coin slide in the coin control unit.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the switching device shown in FIG. 4 as taken along line 5-5 therein.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the switching device as taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5 and showing in detail those parts pertaining to the operation of the normally closed switch in the device.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the switching device as taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5 and showing in detail those parts pertaining to the operation of the normally open switch in the device.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of the switching device showing the normally closed'switch at the end of a first forward movement of the coin slide.

FIG. 9 is a detail view of the switching device showing the normally closed switch restored to the closed state as upon return of the coin slide on completion 'of a single insertion stroke thereof, when the device is set up for single coin slide cycle operation.

FIG. 10 is a detail view of the switching device showing the normally open switch set and latched in the closed state as upon return of the coin slide on completion of the first insertion stroke thereof.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the replaceable cam used in the switching device to adapt same for single coin slide insertion cycle machine operation.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the replaceable cam shown in FIG. 11 as taken along line l212 therein.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the replaceable cam used in the switching device to adapt same for double coin slide insertion cycle machine operation.

FIG. 14 is a detail view of the switching device showing the normally closed switch set in the open state upon completion of the first complete coin slide insertion cycle when the device is set up for double coin slide insertion cycle operation.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the replaceable cam used in the switching device to adapt same for triple coin slide insertion cycle machine operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 'OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates a coin control unit of the type commonly used in conjunction with laundry machines (not shown) and equipped with a conventional coin slide 1], coin box 12 and a switching device 13 of the invention. The switching device 13, for purposes of example, is an embodiment that is selectively adaptable for either multiple or single insertion operation of coin slide 11.

Switching device 13 is the combination of the parts installed upon sub-assembly 14, shown in FIG. 2, which is supported by the structure of unit 10, and a drive member 15 which is expediently made as part of coin slide 11.

As better appreciated by reference to FIGS. 2-10 and 14, switching device 13 has a pair of series connected switches S1 and S2 disposed in side-by-side relation to each other and actuated by corresponding cams C1 and C2. Cams C1, C2 are mounted on a common rotor shaft 16 that is supported by the sub-assembly 14 for rotation relative thereto. Also mounted on shaft 16 for rotation therewith in unison with cams C1, C2 are a ratchet gear 17 and an index gear 18. Associated with ratchet gear 17 are a ratchet plate 19, a spring 21 which biases plate 19 toward the position shown in-FIG. 6, and a pawl wire 22 carried by plate 19 for turning gear 17. Associated with index gear 18 are a latching lever 23 and spring 24. Lever 23 is pivotally connected to sub-assembly 14 and biased by spring 24 into latching engagement with index gear 18.

Drive member 15 is disposed for movement in unison with the coin slide 11 and has at its forward end a plate 25 releasably connected thereto by screws 26, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 6. In the operation of coin slide 11, whenever a coin is deposited, slide 11 and drive member 15 move in a forward direction indicated by arrow X and then move in the opposite direction to a return position. Thus, each coin slide movement cycle consists of a prescribed forward coin slide movement and a return coin slide movement. Regardless of whether the machine under control is one requiring a single coin slide 11 insertion or one requiring multiple coin slide 11 insertions, it is important that no activation of the machine occur until after the required number of insertions have been completed.

In the operation of switching device 13, when drive member 15 moves forward, the leading edge of plate 25 bears against ratchet plate 19 and turns it relative to shaft 16 in the direction indicated by arrow Y, through a preset angular distance. The pawl 22 and ratchet gear 17 are so arranged that during this forward movement of drive member 15, shaft 16 does not turn, but on the return movement of drive member 15 the pawl 22 engages gear 17 and the plate 19 loaded by spring 21 rotatably indexes the shaft 16 and cams C1, C2 through an angular distance established by the index gear 18, latching lever 23 and spring 24 combination.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, for either single, double or triple insertion operation, six index teeth are provided on index gear 18 and a six-tooth ratchet gear 17 is used. Each return stroke of the slide 1 1 and drive member 15 advances the cams C1, C2 by 60.

As can be noted from FIG. 3, the switches S1 and S2 are each of the single pole, double throw type, with switch S1 being normally closed, and switch S2 being normally open and having an associated electrically releasable latch 27 that is operable to hold switch S2 in its closed state upon being set therein. Theswitches S1 and S2 are electrically connected in series such that electrical conduction through both switches S1, S2 as measured between terminals A and B will exist only when both switches S1, S2 are closed.

Cams C1 and C2 are so contoured that when displaced in accordance with the movement of coin slide 11, through the ratchet indexing mechanism hereinbefore described, they will actuate the switches S1, S2 respectively in a sequence that establishes conduction through both switches S1, S2 upon completion of a predetermined number of coin slide 11 insertions, depending upon the configuration of cam C1. In the embodiment shown by FIGS. 1-10, the configuration of cam l is such that conduction through both switches S1 and S2 takes place upon single insertion of cam slide 11.

Under typical initial conditions, as shown in FIGS. 6

and 7, switch S1 is closed and switch S2 is open and latch 27 is released. At the end of drive member 15 forward travel in the first insertion cycle, shown in FIG. 8, the return movement of drive member 15 allows spring loaded indexing of cams C1, C2 such that cam Cl displaces the wiper block 38 on resilient, flexible arm 31 of switch S1, and cam C2 displaces wiper block 39 on the resilient, flexible arm 32 of switch S2 to a position corresponding to its closed state, in which position arm 32 is held by latch 27, (see FIG. 10).

The position assumed by arm 31, and hence the switching state of switch S1, at the end of any complete insertion cycle will depend upon the configuration of cam C1 installed in the device.

While cams Cl and C2 are both mounted on drive shaft 16 for rotation in unison therewith, the cam C1 is releaseably connected to shaft 16 and plate 101 thereon, and is interchangeably replaceable to adapt the switching device for operation with different predetermined numbers of coin slide movement cycles.

The particular cam C1 shown in FIGS. 1-12 is the one used for'single coin slide insertion operation, and has six lobes L.

From FIG. 10 it can be readily seen that cam C2, associated with the normally open, latchable switch 82, also has six lobes, somewhat similar to those on cam Cl, however, the cam C2 is not replaced to change the number of operation coin slide insertions. The lobes on cam C2 are each disposed for successive actuating engagement with switch S2 to set same into a closed state upon the completion of each coin slide insertion cycle, and this closed state is retained by latch 27 until released by the action of coil 33. Energization of coil 33 for release of latch 27 can be accomplished by any conventional means (not shown), expediently furnished as a part of the machine under control.

The lobes L of cam C1 are each disposed for successive actuating engagement with switch S1 to maintain same in an open state until the completion of a predetermined number of coin slide insertion cycles whereby conduction through both of the switches S1 and S2 is established upon completion of such number of insertion cycles, and not before.

In the case of cam C1 designed for single insertion operation, each complete coin slide insertion cycle advances shaft 16 and cams C1, C2 (one-sixth of a revolution), wherefore the lobes L are shaped to hold S1 open only until the coin slide drive bar returns clear of ratchet plate 19, i.e., end of single insertion cycle.

According to the invention, the aforesaid predetermined number of coin slide cycles is equal to the number of lobes of the cam C2, divided by the number of lobes of the cam C 1. Thus, for cams C 1 and C2 having both six lobes, as in FIGS. 1-11, the switching device will close both switches S1, S2, concurrently to operate the controlled machine (not shown) upon each coin slide insertion.

In FIG. 13 there is shown a cam CIA having three lobes L, which cam ClA can be used to replace cam C1 to set up the switching device for double insertion operation, as exemplified in FIG. 14. At the completion of a single coin slide insertion, the switch S1 wiper block 38 contacts cam CIA at the middle of one of its lobes L, whereby S1 is held open.

At the end of the second coin slide insertion cycle, cam ClA will have moved such that wiper block 38 rests against the following root portion R of cam ClA whereby S1 will be restored to its normally closed state, and concurrent conduction through both switches S1 and S2 exists.

In FIG. 15 there is shown a cam ClB having two lobes L", that adapt cam ClB for use in the switching device to set up the'device for triple insertion operation.

With a six lobe cam C2, and because for practical reasons, less than two lobes on the cam C1 replacement is precluded, the number of insertions for operation is bounded within the range of l to 3. However, with a cam C2 having more lobes, this range can be extended upwards according to the lobe ratio between the two cams C1, C2.

To allow easy interchangeability of cams C1, CIA, ClB, the shaft 16 is removable together with the ratchet plate 19, and earns C1, C2, etc., simply by removing screws 102 and taking off plate 103 securing one end of shaft 16 to the sub-assembly 14 support structure, as can be noted from FIGS. 4 and 5. Plate 101 is provided with a hole 105 disposed for matching engagement with a projecting pin 106 on each cam Cl, ClA, ClB to establish same in the proper preset angular orientation with respect to cam C2.

Since the shaft 16 is supported at both ends by the structure of sub-assembly 14 for rotation, the replaceable cam C1, ClA, ClB has an extending sleeve 107 disposed for wiping contact engagement with plate 108 of sub-assembly 14 to establish the location of such cam Cl, CIA, C1B along the shaft 16 axis between the plate 101 on shaft 16 and the plate 108.

While various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be readily understood and appreciated that various changes and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A switching device for a coin controlled machine which comprises in combination a pair of series connected switches; drive means disposed for rotary indexing movement by a coin slide, a first cam supported by said drive means for rotary movement therewith to actuate a first one of said switches, a second cam releasably connected to said drive means and supported thereby for rotary movement therewith to actuate the second one of said switches, said first cam having a plurality of lobes each disposed for actuating engagement with said first switch to set same in a closed state upon the completion of each coin slide movement cycle, said second cam having a plurality of lobes each disposed for actuating engagement with said second switch to maintain same in an open state until the completion of a predetermined number of coin slide movement cycles equal to the number of lobes of said first cam divided by the number of lobes of said second cam whereby conduction through both of said switches is established upon completion of such number of coin slide movement cycles said drive means including a plate having a part disposed for matching engagement with a corresponding part on said second cam to establish same in a predetermined angular orientation with respect to said first cam and a shaft supported for rotation by a support structure that engages both ends of the shaft, said first cam, second cam and plate being carried by said shaft, said second cam being disposed for wiping contact engagement with said support structure to establish the location of said second cam along the shaft axis and between said plate and support structure.

2. A switching device according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined number of coin slide cycles is within the range of l to 3. 

1. A switching device for a coin controlled machine which comprises in combination a pair of series connected switches; drive means disposed for rotary indexing movement by a coin slide, a first cam supported by said drive means for rotary movement therewith to actuate a first one of said switches, a second cam releasably connected to said drive means and supported thereby for rotary movement therewith to actuate the second one of said switches, said first cam having a plurality of lobes each disposed for actuating engagement with said first switch to set same in a closed state upon the completion of each coin slide movement cycle, said second cam having a plurality of lobes each disposed for actuating engagement with said second switch to maintain same in an open state until the completion of a predetermined number of coin slide movement cycles equal to the number of lobes of said first cam divided by the number of lobes of said second cam whereby conduction through both of said switches is established upon completion of such number of coin slide movement cycles said drive means including a plate having a part disposed for matching engagement with a corresponding part on said second cam to establish same in a predetermined angular orientation with respect to said first cam and a shaft supported for rotation by a support structure that engages both ends of the shaft, said first cam, second cam and plate being carried by said shaft, said second cam being disposed for wiping contact engagement with said support structure to establish the location of said second cam along the shaft axis and between said plate and support structure.
 2. A switching device according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined number of coin slide cycles is within the range of 1 to
 3. 